24 MR. MONROé HOLDS THé FORT T HE country house, on this particular wintry afternoon, was most enjoyable. Night was trudging up the hill and the air was sharp. Mr. Monroe held already called attention several times to the stark beauty of the black tree branches limned, as he put it, against the sky. The wood fire had settled down to sleepy glowing in the grate. "It is a little lonely, though," said Mrs. Monroe. (The nearest house was far away.) "I love it," said her husband, darkly. At moments and in places like this, he enjoyed giving the impression of a strong, silent man wrapped in medita- tion. He stared, brooding, into the fire. Mrs. Monroe, looking quite tiny and helpless, sat on the floor at his feet and leaned against him. He gave her shoulder two slow, reflective pats. "I really don't mind staying here when Germaine is here-just we two," said Mrs. Monroe, "but I think I would be terrified if I were alone." Germaine, the maid, a buxom, fearless woman, was in town on shopping leave. The Monroes had thought it would be fun to spend the weekend alone and get their own meals, the way they used to. H OW curiously things happen! "There's nothing in the world to be That is what Mr. Monroe afraid of," said l\IIr. Monroe. thought, an hour later, as he drove back "Oh, it gets so terribly black outside, from the station after taking his wife and you hear all kinds of funny noises. there to catch the 7: 10. Imagine her at night that you don't hear during the mother getting one of those fool spells day." Mr. Monroe eXplained to her at this time! Imagine expecting a why that was-expansion (said he) of grown daughter to come running every woodwork in the cold night air, and so time you felt a little dizzy! Imagine on. From there he somehow went into -well, the ways of women were be- a discussion of firearms, which would yond him. He turned into the drive have betrayed to practically anyone that of the country house. Judas, but it his knowledge of guns was limited to a was dark! Dark and silent. Mr. few impressive names like Colt and Monroe didn't Luger. They were one of those things put the machine he was always going to read up on but in the garage. He never did. He mentioned quietly, got out and stood however, that he was an excellent shot. still, listening. "Mr. Farrington left his pistol here, Off toward the you know," said Mrs. Monroe, "but woo d s some- I've never touched it-ugh!" where he heard a "He did?" cried her husband. thumping nOIse. "\Vhere is it? I'd like to take a look Partridge drum- at it." Mr. Farrington was the man ming, though t from whom they had taken, on long Mr. Monroe. But lease, the Connecticut place. partridge didn't "It's upstairs in the chest of drawers t hum p, they in the back room," said Mrs. IV10nroe. whirred - didn't Her husband, despite her protests, went they? Oh, well, up and got it and brought it down. they pro b a b I Y "Please put it away!" said his wife. thumped at this "Is it loaded? Oh, don't do that! time of year. Please!" Mr. l\IIonroe, looking grim I t was good to and Cülnpetent, WaS aiming the thing, turning it over, scowling at it. "It's loaded all right," he said, "all fi ve barrels." "Chambers," said his wife. " y " h O d " L 1 es, e sal . et me s 10W you how to use it-after all, you can never tell when you're going to need a gun." "Oh, I'd never se it-even if one of those convicts that esc:lped yesterday came right up the stairs and I could shoot him, I'd just stand there. I'd be paralyzed!" "N onsense ! " said Mr. Monroe. "You don't have to shoot a man. Get the drop on him, stand him up with his face against a wall, and phone the police. Look here-" he covered an imaginary figure, backed him against the wall, and sat down at the phone table. "Always keep your eye on him; don't look into the transmitter." Mr. Monroe glared at his man, lifted up the receiver, holding the hook down with his finger, and spoke quietly to the phone. In the midst of this the phone rang. l\IIr. l\IIonroe started sharply. " I ' f d " h O d t s or you, ear, e sal present- ly. His wife took the receiver. <:t .. ';' " //..;I .";'(ç'., ' i : NOVEMDER .3 0, 19 2, get inside the house. He built up the fi re, and turned on the over- head lights-his wife never allowed them turned on. Then he went into a couple of other rooms and turned on more lights. He wished he had gone in town with her. Of course she'd be back in the morning on the 10: 10, and they'd have the rest of that day-Sun- day-together. Still . . . he went to the drawer where he had put the re- volver and got it out. He fell to wondering whether the thing would work. Long-unused guns often jammed, or exploded. He went out in to the kitchen, carrying the pistol. His wife had told him to be sure and get him- self a snack. He opened the refrigera- tor door, looked in, decided he wasn't hungry, and closed it again. He went back to the living-room and began to pace up and down. He decided to put the pistol on the mantel, butt to- ward him. Then he practiced making quick grabs for it. Presently he sat down in a chair, picked up a Nation and began to read, at random: "Two men are intimately connected with the kill- ing of striking workers at Marion, North Carolina. . . ." \Vhere had those convicts his wife mentioned escaped from? Dannemora? Matteawan? How far were those places from this house? l\IIaybe having all the lights on was a bad idea. He got up and turned -f' '_.:: ., _.')1,-;". }'. ".. '.. /.;-: .